Means for the support of the rotor in liquid ring rotary pumps



JW F.

July 10, 1962 R. GABBIONETA MEANS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE ROTOR IN LIQUID RING ROTARY PUMPS Filed Dec. 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1962 R. GABBIONETA MEANS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE ROTOR IN LIQUID RING ROTARY PUMPS Filed Dec. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 --jl. W N-m United States The present invention relates to means for the support of the rotor in liquid ring rotary pumps.

Rotary pumps of this kind designed for use in the chemical industry, in which the rotor is mounted in suspension at the end of the driving shaft which is usually carried by a double external support, are well known.

This mode of construction which allows the shaft to protrude from one side only, requires only one gland and makes the inside of the machine more easily accessible; said mode of construction, however, has one notable disadvantage.

The weight of the rotor mounted at the end of the shaft is, in fact, the cause of bending of the shaft itself, whereby the rotation of the rotor takes place about an axis which.

is slightly eccentric with respect to the axis of the body wherein the rotor itself is rotating.

This disadvantage makes it necessary to allow for more play between the movable and the fixed portions and gives rise to asymmetrical wear On the fixed parts of the machine, such as the distributor cone and the casing.

In rotary pumps of the type referred to, part of the liquid making up the revolving ring escapes during the working of the pump together with the compressed gas; the liquid, having been separated from the gas and cooled, is then made to return to form part of the ring.

It is one object of the present invention to provide means for the support of the rotor in liquid ring rotary pumps, which eliminate the disadvantages referred to above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for the support of t e rotor in liquid ring rotary pumps, which includes a contribution to the support of the rotor by exploiting the actual pressure of the liquid, as it returns to join the ring.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means for the support of the rotor in liquid ring rotary pumps, wherein the liquid in the pump reaches the chamber, wherein the rotor revolves, through a circuit which includes a final portion going axially through the distributor cone of the pump.

Now since the rotor surrounds part of the distributor, one or more passages are provided according to the present invention which emerge from the portion of the circuit of the liquid which passes through the distributor, and, passing through the material of the distributor itself, arrive at a certain portion of the collars surrounding said rotor.

It follows from this that, when the liquid has reached a position of contact with an asymmetrical portion of the rotor, it presses with a certain force on a surface thereof; the positions of the passages which carry the liquid under pressure into contact with the rotor, are such that the mentioned force is directed upwardly so as to contribute to the support of the roto The pressure of the liquid depends on the working pressure of the pump and if it is sufiiciently high it is possible, with an appropriate extension of the surface of the rotor imder pressure, to support a great part of the Weight of the rotor and even to support the whole weight thereof.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section of the pump; and

FIG. 2 is a section along the lines 22 of FIG. 1.

atent G ice Referring now to the drawings, the liquid ring rotary pump comprises a body 3 with an inner wall having two cylindrical surfaces which are eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation.

Inside the body 3 a rotor 4 keyedonto the motor shaft 10 rotates. Also forming part of the pump are the fixed member 1 carrying the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 and a conical distributor .2. Through the inside of this conical distributor 2 runs a channel 5 wherein the liquid flows, which returns to join the ring inside the body 3. It is from this channel 5 that the liquid itself, which arrives Eheire at a certain pressure, passes into the inside of the As may easily be seen in the drawing referred to, a passage 6 branches from the channel 5 and, passing through the conical distributor 2, extends to the rotor 4 at which point the passage 6 widens out in such a manner that it faces up to a surface 7 of the rotor 4 itself, which has a certain area.

In a similar manner a second passage 8 is provided in the conical distributor 2, which also originates from the channel 5 and faces up to an area 9 of the actual rotor 4.

When the liquid has left the compression chamber together with the compressed gas, it is separated therefrom and then cooled, after which it returns to the inside of 'the body 3 to form again part of the revolving ring.

The last section of the circuit before the entrance into the body 3, is the vpassage 5 wherein the liquid flows at a pressure not much less than that which it had at the outlet 12 from the pump.

By reason of what has been said, the pressure of the liquid is transmitted also to the surfaces 7 and 9 of the rotor 4 and is directed upwardly.

The size of the said surfaces 7 and is such that the total upward force acting on the rotor 4 contributes considerably to the support thereof. In this way the disadvantages described above which are present in known pumps of the kind are eliminated.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense,

the scope of the present invention being determined by the objects and the claim.

I claim:

In a rotary liquid ring pump,

a body having an inner wall including two cylindrical surfaces disposed eccentrically relative to the axis of rotation of said pump,

a driving shaft extending into said body,

a rotor positioned within said inner wall keyed to said driving shaft and having a conical recess to form a conical inner face,

a non-rotating member disposed adjacent said body and said rotor and defining an inlet, as well as an outlet,

a conical distributor disposed coaxially with said driving shaft within said rotor and said non-rotating member, said conical distributor defining an axially disposed channel adapted to receive the return flow of the liquid having a predetermined pressure, and at least one vertical and radially disposed channel extending from said axially disposed Channel upwardly to the inner face of said rotor, whereby said pressurized liquid tends to balance the force of gravity on said rotor and contributes to the support thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jennings Mar. 26, 1940 

